Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said Tuesday he was intervening because the damage to the Canadian economy was simply too large to continue.

Canada’s labor minister said Tuesday he is intervening to end lockouts at the country’s two biggest ports. Labor Minister Steven Mackinnon said the negotiations have reached an impasse and he is directing the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order the resumption of all operations at the ports and move the talks to binding arbitration.

Canadian Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said on Tuesday he had directed the country's labor relations board to order an end to disputes at the ports of Vancouver and Montreal, citing the economic damage.

OTTAWA - Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon is intervening to end the work stoppages at ports in both British Columbia and Montreal.

Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon says he is intervening to end the work stoppages at ports in both British Columbia and Montreal. He says the negotiations have reached an impasse and he is directing the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order the resumption of all operations at the ports and move the talks to binding arbitration.